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Football

Football players compete in our Middle East-North Africa region, where football is an always popular pastime.

Football (Americans call it soccer) is possibly the world's most popular team sport. It's also Special Olympics' most popular sport. This page draws together football-related information for all of Special Olympics, including news, stories, calendar events and competition results.

Played in just about every country, the sport's success is due to the fact that it can be played by boys, girls, men and women of just about any physical build and ability. Football requires little in the way of specialized equipment and is organized using simple, intuitive rules.

Football is perfect for Special Olympics Unified Sports, in which people with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same teams. In 2010, Special Olympics held its Unity Cup in connection with the World Cup.

The coming years will see more exciting global and regional football events for Special Olympics.

Quizzes

ربيع الأول 17, 1414 | Latin America: Mexico

Unified Team of Guanajuato

By Paola Martinelli

From a base of 26 players who are part of local Lions Club programs and San Francisco del Rincón a selection of 18 players 10 Football players and 8 Special athletes was formed to take part in the two football tournaments.View Story ▼From a base of 26 players who are part of local Lions Club programs and San Francisco del Rincón a selection of 18 players 10 Football players and 8 Special athletes was formed to take part in the two football tournaments in Banchetto Football field 7 in the July-September and September-November 2013 period. The second half of the Special Olympics Unified Team was adjourned. With this type of equipment we athletes with intellectual disabilities and without intellectual disabilities live together, train and learn from each other. Thank you very much to British Council and Premier Skills that supported the training process, as well as support the Unified football project during 2012.

About Paola Martinelli:National Marketing and Communications Manager

ربيع الأول 18, 1414 | Europe Eurasia: Croatia

Unified football teams come together in Croatia

By Franjo Horvat

Twelve Special Olympics Unified Sports teams competed in a 7-a-side football competition in Zapresic, Croatia on 12 November 2013.View Story ▼Twelve Special Olympics Unified Sports teams competed in a 7-a-side football competition in Zapresic, Croatia on 12 November 2013. Partners were recruited from local high school Josip Jelacic. One of the teams was comprised of low-ability players. Several of the teams had female team members. The competition was organized by Special Club Luc in cooperation with Special Olympics Croatia. “Everyone had a great time at the competition. The teams were nicely balanced and all the participants had a lot of fun,” said Franjo Horvat, National Director, Special Olympics Croatia. Zeljko Kiseljak, who represented community sports associations and federations of Zagreb County and the community sport association of the town of Zapresic, was on hand to present trophies to the teams.

About Franjo Horvat:Franjo Horvat is National Director of Special Olympics Croatia

ربيع الأول 18, 1414 | Europe Eurasia: Spain

I'm a Unified Partner!!

By Esther Cuesta Andujar

My name is Esther Cuesta Andujar, I’m 31 years old, I work as a multisport activities coach and a Unified Sports partner.View Story ▼My name is Esther Cuesta Andujar, I’m 31 years old, I work as a multisport activities coach. I studied Physical Education (“INEF”). I have been working as a multisport coach in Club for a long time, and I often collaborate with Special Olympics, helping them with the organization. I am a Unified Partner in Club Deportivo San Ginés (Level II), and this year we have been awarded a silver medal in the Unified Football-7 Competition.

About Esther Cuesta Andujar:Mi name is Esther Cuesta Andujar, i have been awarded a silver medal in the Unified Football-7 Competition this year.

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Football Events

Date

Event

Location

رجب 26 - 16 2015

Utah State Summer Games

Join us as more than 1,000 athletes and Unified Sports partners will compete during this two-day event and will receive support from nearly 500 coaches and more than 1,000 day-of volunteers! Competition will be held in the following sports: athletics (track & field), soccer, Unified Sports® soccer, softball, motor activities training programFor more informationMore DetailsView More

Salt Lake City, UtahUNITED STATES

رجب 26 - 16 2015

Florida State Summer Games

Special Olympics Florida’s Summer Games are the largest event on the calendar with athletes competing in athletics (track & field), bocce, cycling, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. This event is held annually at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and kicks off with an exciting Olympic-style opening ceremonies featuring the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. It concludes on Saturday night with closing ceremonies and the much anticipated victory dance.For more informationMore DetailsAkin JosephEmail:akinjoseph@sofl.orgPhone:352-243-9536View More

ESPN Wide World of Sports700 South Victory WayLake Buena Vista, FloridaUNITED STATES

شعبان 10 - 30 2015

South Dakota State Summer Games

This will be our 47th annual State Summer Games Competition. Approximately 600 athletes are expected to compete in athletics, aquatics, team soccer, individual soccer skills, powerlifting and volleyball. See you there!
For more informationMore DetailsJohna ThumEmail:jthum@sosd.orgPhone:605-331-4117View More

South Dakota State University CampusBrookings, South DakotaUNITED STATES

شعبان 11 - 31 2015

Missouri State Summer Games

Join us May 29-31 for the 2015 Missouri State Summer Games in Springfield Missouri as our athletes showcase their skills over 3 days of sports competition. Athletes will compete in aquatics, soccer, track and field, powerlifting, and volleyball. For more details about the event please refer to link and contact info below.For more informationMore DetailsSusan ShafferEmail:shaffer@somo.orgPhone:573-635-1660 View More

Springfield, MissouriUNITED STATES

شعبان 11 - 31 2015

Rhode Island State Summer Games

Join us May 29-31 at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island as over 1,500 athletes from across the state of Rhode Island compete in athletics, aquatics, cycling, bowling, motor activities training program, soccer, and powerlifting! For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationMore DetailsChris HopkinsEmail:chris@specialolympicsri.orgPhone:(401) 349-4900View More

University of Rhode Island45 Upper College RoadKingston, Rhode IslandUNITED STATES

شعبان 18 - 7 2015

Colorado State Summer Games

This years Summer Games will be held in Grand Junction at Colorado Mesa University. This event is the biggest Special Olympics Colorado competition of the year! The event brings together athletes from across the state to compete in five sports: athletics, aquatics, gymnastics, powerlifting and soccer.For more informationMore DetailsSpecial Olympics ColoradoEmail:beafan@SpecialOlympicsCO.orgPhone:720-359-3100View More

Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, ColoradoUNITED STATES

شعبان 25 - 14 2015

Illinois State Summer Games

Summer Games is Special Olympics Illinois premiere sports competition with more than 4,000 athletes and Unified Partners competing in 6 different sports, along with 1,600 coaches, 2,500 volunteers and 3,300 family members. That totals more than 11,400 people who attend Summer Games! The Summer Games are held at Illinois State University in Normal and the Illinois Wesleyan University campus in Bloomington. A variety of activities are provided for the participants in addition to the sports competitions. Competition will be offered in athletics, aquatics, bocce, Unified bocce, gymnastics, football (soccer) and powerlifting. The public is invited and encouraged to attend any and all parts of Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games. Hope to see you there!For more informationMore DetailsDavid ShindleyEmail:dshindley@soill.orgPhone:309-888-2551View More

ISU & IWU CampusBloomington-Normal, IllinoisUNITED STATES

شوال 8 - شوال 17 2015

World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015

In July of 2015 more than 7,000 athletes from 170 countries will come to Los Angeles, California for the Special Olympics World Summer Games and enjoy 10 days full of joy, friendship and competition. Athletes will compete in 22 sports. The event expects to attract 500,000 spectators and 30,000 volunteers and 3,000 coaches.For more informationMore DetailsWorld Summer Games Los Angeles 2015Email:info@la2015.orgPhone:213-892-6018View More

Various Locations, Los AngelesLos Angeles , CaliforniaUNITED STATES

ذو القعدة 03, 1436

Coaches Training - Soccer

Join us on August 18th for a soccer coaches training. The venue is to be to be determined. To register please use the link below. If you have further questions please contact Zach Warner at warne1zd@cmich.eduFor more informationMore DetailsZach WarnerEmail:warne1zd@cmich.eduView More

Grand Rapids, Michigan UNITED STATES

ذو القعدة 09, 1436

Coaches Training - Soccer

Join us on August 24th for a soccer coaches training online webinar. Attendance in Mount Pleasant is not needed. To register please use the link below. If you have further questions please contact Zach Warner at warne1zd@cmich.eduFor more informationMore DetailsZach WarnerEmail:warne1zd@cmich.eduView More

WebinarMount Pleasant, MIchigan UNITED STATES

ذو القعدة 29, 1436

Northern Region Soccer Tournament

Join us on September 13 at the Roscommon Rotary Soccer Fields in Roscommon, Michigan as our athletes compete in the all-day Soccer Tournament. Hope to see you there!For more informationView More

Roscommon Rotary Soccer FieldsRoscommon, MichiganUNITED STATES

ذو الحجة 14, 1436

Kansas State Soccer & Bocce Tournament

Join us on September 27th at Lone Elm Park in Olathe, Kansas as our athletes compete in 5-a-side soccer, bocce singles, bocce doubles and bocce team. Cheer on our athletes and witness the power of sports. We hope to see you there! For more details please refer to the link and contact information below.For more informationMore DetailsTim RehderEmail:rehdert@ksso.orgPhone:913-236-9290View More

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Football/Soccer Competitions

2014 European Summer Games

The Special Olympics European Summer Games featured 10 sports and 58 delegations, making the 2014 Games one of the largest ever. See stories and results

2014 Canada Summer Games

The Special Olympics 2014 Canada Summer Games was the largest Canadian Games ever. See results and teams.

2013 Asia Pacific Games

Athletes from 30 Asia Pacific and East Asia regions compete in the inaugural Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Games. Get schedules and results.

2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Athens, Greece, was the home of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. That year, it was the world’s largest sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. See results by athlete, delegation and bib number.

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.